Books, movies and marriage

The foundation of fiction or narrative nonfiction is conflict. Without it, there isn’t a story. Writers devise problems for the sake of perpetuating the story and engaging their readers.

If David Copperfield had lived in a perfect world, Dickens wouldn’t have had anything to say. In fact, books, films or television shows would cease to exist without problems. Life is painful and difficult and art reflects that fact.

Yet, it’s more complex than that.

Filmmakers are often activists who’re trying to raise awareness. They champion moral issues and hope to influence people to change their minds.

Viewers watch their work and feel like everyone else is more enlightened. It creates peer pressure to conform. Yet, it’s largely faulty thinking on our part. Most people in America may think a certain behavior is reprehensible but a film presents it as an accepted practice.

We must be wise to tell the difference.

Solomon said that “the fear of man brings a snare” (Proverbs 29:25, NKJV). We should never be afraid of the faces of the sinful (Jeremiah 1:8). We must “obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

A movie about a happy marriage would be boring to most unless some calamity happened to them. Therefore, we misunderstand when filmmakers or writers portray unhappy marriages or divorces. Happy marriages are indeed possible and are happening all over America.

Statistics say half of all marriages fail but those numbers are corrupted by all those who have multiple divorces. One person who has five divorces counts for five other couples whose marriages are a success. Statistics are often very misleading.

Let’s trust God and his plan for marriage (Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:4-6). He knows what he’s talking about and in the end, his approval is all that really matters (John 12:48; Revelation 20:11-15).

Richard lives in Florence, Alabama and is married to Deirdre. They have three daughters. He is an avid reader, devoted writer and lover of history and research. He is the author of "The Most Important Question" and is working on more books.

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Richard Mansel

Richard lives in Florence, Alabama and is married to Deirdre. They have three daughters. He is an avid reader, devoted writer and lover of history and research. He is the author of "The Most Important Question" and is working on more books.
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